Moments after taking the oath of office, President Barack Obama delivered his inaugural address. He thanked President Bush for his service but charted a different course that may see considerable government expansion and what Obama promises will be a different approach to international affairs. Listen here now for extended excerpts of the Obama address.
How are Democrats celebrating the return of the White House to a president of their party? What are the lasting memories from this inauguration? And how can we expect the new administration to hit the ground running? We ask Michael Lewan, a longtime Democratic activist and former Chief of Staff for Sen. Joe Lieberman.
Among President Obama’s very first acts will likely be the reversal of the Mexico City Policy and a far-reaching expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. So what exactly is the Mexico City policy and how would it impact the unborn? What are the facts about what’s being achieved through adult stem cell research as opposed to work done through the destruction of human embryos? And what legislation is in the pipeline that would roll back even the most minor of abortion restrictions? We ask Matt Staver, Founder and President of Liberty Counsel and Dean of the Liberty University School of Law.
Officials estimate more than a million people flocked to the National Mall in Washington for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. What was the atmosphere like among the throngs? What will be the memorable lines from the inaugural address? What clues did Obama give about how he will approach our nation’s challenges? And what does this day tell us about the enduring strength of our Constitution? We ask Dr. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia.
We have Monday’s top news…Which two men are smiling today after having their prison sentences commuted by President Bush? Why might some Bush administration figures soon be facing their own prosecution? Just how much security will be in place for Tuesday’s presidential inauguration? What little secret did Joe Biden’s wife let slip about how her husband got his new job? And who is the apparent winner of the race to replace Hillary Clinton as the new U.S. Senator from New York? We have all the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, January 19, 2009.
On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. The cost for this year’s celebration – from the ceremony to the giant screens on the National Mal, to the portable toilets to the security to the lavish inaugural balls will total $170 million. Is that too much? Why are there fewer complaints this year than four years ago when President Bush was criticized for a much smaller tab? How does all of this plus a presidential transition get planned in just over two months? And how important is Obama’s inaugural speech? We ask Rich Galen, former press secretary to Dan Quayle and communications director for then House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Galen served on the Presidental Inauguration Committee in 2001 and 2005. He now writes the internet column mullings.com.
Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas both declared unilateral cease-fires. Did Israel accomplish everything it sought to do or is there another reason its forces are pulling back? Why is a major reason for the end to operations the changing of the administration right here in Washington? What has Israel accomplished over the past three weeks? And what will be the likely Obama policy towards Israel? We ask Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, vice president for research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
On his final full day in office, President Bush commuted the remaining prison sentences of former U.S. Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos. Should we be surprised that Bush finally acted in favor of two men that millions believe are the victims of a great injustice? Why were they really prosecuted in the first place? And what is the impact of this case on border enforcement? We ask Dr. Jerome Corsi, best-selling author and senior staff reporter for World Net Daily.com, who has closely followed the story.
This month, Dr. Martin, Luther King, Jr. would have celebrated his 80th birthday. As the nation pauses to honor his memory and legacy just one day before the inauguration of the first black president, we honor Dr. King for his passionate and dignified pursuit of a nation in which all men are created equal.
We have Friday’s top news…What is the focus of the investigation into the New York plane crash? How is the U.S. Airways CEO reacting to Thursday’s miracle? What promises is Barack Obama making about his forthcoming economic stimulus plan? What does the Bush administration believe ought to be the foundation for a MIddle East ceasefire? What did Dana Perino say Friday at her final White House press briefing? And how did the markets fare today? We have all the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Friday, January 16, 2009.
